Building a stone structure is best done when you have the knowledge and experience. This way, you can avoid many nuances and drawbacks that may arise if someone doesn’t know how to properly execute certain steps. It’s impossible to consider absolutely everything, so this article is created to provide a few very important recommendations.
Don’t neglect engineering-geological works
One of the most important actions is the engineering-geological work. The house must be tied to a specific plot. It’s crucial that it fully meets the standards. This way, there will be no issues with the foundation, wall construction, roofing, communications setup, interior finishing, or facade creation.
Of course, a lot depends on the allocated budget and the season, but you shouldn’t save by not hiring an expert to conduct a detailed site survey. This will help design an ideal, durable, and long-lasting structure. Without a solid knowledge base, you can’t do this on your own. Neglecting it usually leads to significantly overpaying later on just to fix your initial mistakes.
Engineering-geological research is part of the preparatory stages. Measurements of elevation differences must be taken, the type of soil should be determined, and the chemical and physical properties of the ground need to be identified. Typically, an expert will prepare a detailed report with recommendations and factual data. These allow you to understand which type of foundation is best suited for individual use. Mistakes in this stage should not even be considered, as in just a few years you might have cracks, wall structural issues, and even problems with the communication system.
The following data is important during the engineering-geological research:
- Elevation differences
- Distance from neighbors
- Soil type
- Moisture levels
- Acceptable norms
Such work can be conducted at any time of the year, but it’s better to do it in spring or summer. Low temperatures often reduce the accuracy of the results, and this can later cause serious problems with the foundation if it is chosen incorrectly. If you don’t have the necessary knowledge for conducting these works, it’s best to simply hire a specialist. This is a good investment in safety and long-term operation.
Don’t save on construction materials and engineering communications
Design stages also rely on the development of architectural solutions. Experts call it A.R. (architectural and construction design). This is necessary to predict the external and internal parameters of the future house, understand its area, overall dimensions, and the layout of individual rooms. It’s not just about planning; professionals create a very detailed document.
In it, they specify:
- Structural solutions
- Dimensions of door and window openings
- Ceiling height
- Characteristics of walls and floors
- All communications
- Embeds
The working documentation is created for the construction teams. Additionally, they draw detailed junctions, which helps to better envision the future house, consider what kind of load the foundation will bear, and choose the most suitable materials for construction.
Based on all this documentation, a complete cost estimate is formed. It includes the price of necessary materials, their quantities, and this way, the person can know how much money will actually be needed for implementation. It’s best not to save on this. Of course, you can choose the cheapest communications and materials, but this will negatively affect long-term operation. You will face regular breakdowns, and it’s quite difficult to repair a stone house due to the nature of the material. So, it’s better to wait, save up, and then purchase quality products. This will protect you from frequent pipe bursts or complete failures of the communication systems. If the foundation is exposed to water, it will also negatively impact its properties, as it will need to be dried out and likely restored, which is quite expensive.
Order the house project from a reliable contractor
Buying an individual project from a beginner is a bad idea in advance. The problem is that they likely don’t have enough experience, technology, or knowledge to do everything properly. If you don’t want to pay a new contractor later to fix mistakes, it’s advisable to find a good expert right away.
When searching for a contractor, pay attention to:
- Experience level
- Portfolio quality
- Average ratings
- Client reviews
You can also ask for the phone numbers or other contacts of previous clients to learn more about the expert. However, they may refuse and say that this is confidential information. Just remember that reviews can also be fake, so relying solely on them is not the best decision.
You have the right to ask a potential designer about their education and request to see their diploma and additional certificates. This will help you verify that the person is qualified for the job.
Typically, you can tell from the portfolio whether the person works in the style you need. Don’t experiment and hope that the expert will manage well if they’ve never done anything like that before. It’s better to not save time and money. Simply analyze several companies, their prices, and the characteristics mentioned above.
Monitor the builders’ work at all stages
No one will mind if you visit the construction site to make sure the work is proceeding according to plan. Additionally, it’s advisable to request regular reports on all expenses and the tasks that have already been completed. This is very useful, as you can make adjustments in real-time, and it will be much more economical than waiting until the end to say that something is wrong and needs to be urgently changed.
It’s convenient to agree with the crew on which day you’ll come once a week to check the progress. Before that, it’s a good idea to review the project documentation and engineering solutions to understand what’s happening at the site.